For Immediate Release
March 8, 2017
Reference: Irma Shauf-Bajar, GABRIELA USA Chairperson, gabrielawomen@gmail.com
March 8th, 2017 marks the commemoration of 108th Anniversary of International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) around the world, and here in the US millions are striking and taking action amidst the oppressive political climate that devalues women.
This IWWD, GABRIELA USA, an overseas chapter of GABRIELA National Alliance in the Philippines, with local organizations in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Portland, and Washington DC, will join millions nationwide to RISE against Fascism, RESIST militarization, and UNITE for Liberation.
As violence escalates against our communities, we will not stay silent or live in fear. As Filipino women we vow to rise against neoliberal and anti-people policies that pit communities against each other. We will stand with our Muslim, Black, and immigrant brothers and sisters, and all women who hold communities together and are fighting for their lives. We rise with our trans and gender nonconforming youth and communities as we see the blatant attacks.
We resist the Trump administration which caters to the rich at the expense of the majority of the people. We refuse to accept policies that further oppress women, working class families, and immigrants. Internationally, we know that our struggles are ultimately tied to one another, as is our liberation. Women will never be free until we take down the capitalist economy, which is the root of the crisis that plagues us all and which spurs imperialist wars of aggression.
GABRIELA USA affirms our commitment to build a militant women’s movement towards people’s emancipation. We must RISE to defend our countries from foreign aggression, RESIST militarization and defend our sovereignty and UNITE towards national and social liberation. Let us continue to uphold the legacy of March 8 International Working Women’s Day and build our collective resistance to end all forms of violence against the people, including state repression, fascism, militarization and wars of aggression.